A Jordanian soldier who shot dead seven Israeli schoolgirls in 1997 was released from prison today, sparking outrage from the families of those he killed.

In March 1997 Ahmad Dakamseh fired an automatic weapon at the girls, who were ironically on a trip to the Island of Peace, a man-made park on the Jordanian border.

Sivan Fatihi, Natali Alkalai, Adi Malka, Ya'ala Me'iri, and Nirit Cohen, who were all 13, and Karen Cohen and Shiri Badayev, who were both 14, were killed and five others were wounded, as well as a teacher.

Dakamseh showed no remorse during interviews with Jordanian media. He said his opinion of Israelis had not changed and he added: 'As for my position on the Zionists, you all know...what I did 20 years ago.'

Hezi Cohen, who lost his daughter Nirit, said today: 'This morning takes us back 20 years, to that horrible day.'

He said: 'I'd like to tell the (Israeli) prime minister and defence minister "Our children's blood should not be worthless". You should have acted vis-a-vis Jordan to prevent this release at any cost.'

Ahmed Dakamseh (pictured, right, in sunglasses) is welcomed by relatives in his home village of Ebder, near Irbid, after spending 20 years in jail

Jordanian soldier Ahmad Dakamseh waves to relatives in court during his trial in June 1997 before being sentenced to 20 years for killing seven Israeli schoolgirls earlier the same year

Photographs of the seven murdered schoolgirls are on display at a memorial to the massacre at the Island of Peace, where they were killed 20 years ago

Dakamseh was sentenced to life imprisonment, which in Jordan is 20 years.

His cousin Mohammed Yahya Dakamseh said: 'He is now a free man after he finished his jail term'.

Dakamseh, who is now 46, was released from the Bab al-Hawa prison in Irbid, 60 miles north of the capital, Amman.

He had been sentenced to life imprisonment, which in Jordan is 20 years.